ThisOldHouse.com: How to Deal With Common Lawn Problems

Be Your Own Lawn Doctor

Weeds aren't the only thing standing between you and the lush lawn of your dreams. Once your turf is established, you've got to watch for pests, fungal diseases—and even Fido. Got a mysterious brown spot or dry patch plaguing your grass? Don't worry about it. You can make your yard beautiful again. Here are 8 common problems, along with symptoms and remedies for each one.

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Weeds aren't the only thing standing between you and the lush lawn of your dreams. Once your turf is established, you've got to watch for pests, fungal diseases—and even Fido. Got a mysterious brown spot or dry patch plaguing your grass? Don't worry about it. You can make your yard beautiful again. Here are 8 common problems, along with symptoms and remedies for each one.

Symptoms: Irregular dead spots caused by beetle larvae feeding on grass roots. Damage is worst in the fall. Dead turf pulls up easily, like a rug, revealing c-shaped larvae. Animals such as armadillos, skunks, and gophers dig up lawn to feed on grubs.

Solution: Imidacloprid applied in late spring to early summer is the most effective chemical control. Predatory nematodes are a useful organic control.

Symptoms: Irregular dead spots caused by small gray or tan caterpillars feeding on grass blades. You may also see zigzagging moths at night. Confirm the presence of webworms by soaking a small area with soapy water (two tablespoons of dish soap in a gallon of water). They'll come to the surface in about 10 minutes.

Symptoms: Quickly appearing and expanding dead spots caused by a number of difficult-to-diagnose lawn diseases.

Solution: Most lawn diseases can be cured by adjusting cultural practices, such as watering or fertilizing less or watering or fertilizing at different times. Aerating also helps. Get help properly identifying the disease from a local nurseryman or cooperative extension service before using fungicide.

Solution: Make sure you overlap wheel tracks when applying fertilizer with a drop-type spreader. If stripes are more tan or brown than yellow, your lawn mower may need to be adjusted to cut more evenly and prevent scalping.

Solution: Check the pH of the soil. If it's okay, increase sunlight by pruning trees. Reduce watering and aerate. Switch to a more shade-tolerant grass, such as fine fescue, or remove the grass and replace with a shade-tolerant ground cover, such as pachysandra or vinca.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

The Great Outdoo...With everything from grass to gravel to flowers to sheds, the yard is a great place to showcase your creativity by revamping it. Click here to get a look at the winners of the Reader Remodel Contest from ThisOldHouse.com.